The National Poultry Farmers Association has stated that a ban on the importation of ‘day old chicks’ announced by government will have no effect on the poultry industry.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture announced on April 6, 2016, that importation of day old chicks and other poultry products from neighboring countries have been banned to avert a breakout of avian influenza.
[contextly_sidebar id=”zbFGNNvSizG6R1tNrHiXCQMzRjebsKGv”]The Deputy Minister in charge of livestock, Dr. Hannah Bisiw, who made the announcement explained that the decision was due to increased commercial activities at the border towns, particularly of La Cote d’ Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
But Speaking to Citi Business News, the Vice Chairman of the National Poultry Farmers Association, Napoleon Agyemang Oduro disclosed that Ghana receives most of its supplies from Europe and other countries outside the continent; hence the ban will have no effect.
“The ban is not to strengthen the local hatchery industry, the ban is a form of a surveillance put in place to avert cross-border transmission of diseases”, he said adding that “there is going to be an increase in the import of poultry product from other countries such as Brazil, Holland and other places”.
He applauded government for the move, stating that it will help the local poultry industry and the country at large.
He recalled for a example that Ghana has also suffered such bans in the past from neighboring countries any time the flu was recorded in the poultry industry.
He pointed out that there will be some opportunity for producers of day old chicks in the country, even though it will be relatively small.
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), Mr. Edward Kareweh has urged local poultry producers to take advantage of the ban on the importation to produce more to meet the local demand.
“Once the ban is enforced it will be an incentive for local production to go up because business people go into production in anticipation of the market”, he said.
He explained that the incentive for the market to go up will translate into high demand of day old chicks which local producers can take advantage of to increase their margin.
By: Lawrence Segbefia/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana
